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Illinois ladies facing bc

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  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 563
    edited March 2013

    Let me know next time there's s lunch-I'd love to see everyone.

    What divine weather today!

    Hope everyone's doing well. ((Hugs))

  • C-squared
    C-squared Member Posts: 338
    edited March 2013

    Here's an 'oldie but a goodie" from the Chicago Tribune Peeps contest 2012:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/peeps/chi-peeps2012-ugcgallery,0,3403621.ugcphotogallery

    Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

    zap~ that was such good advice you shared with Deyla.., even I felt relief!!!  It just reinforces what wonderful things the discussion boards have to offer.  So much experience and, as a result, such a wealth of knowledge!!! 

    Deyla~ you sound well and I think the break was a good thing!  Hang in there and know that we are here for you!

    Rita~ Thinking about you and wishing you all the best on your journey!  I look forward to hearing from you when you return.

    Hoping for another beautiful day tomorrow and holding out for the hope of spring!  I actually have a couple of blooms in the garden..., love that!  Smile

  • Deyla7641
    Deyla7641 Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2013

    Zap- thank you so much for the info! Deyla

  • Dea43
    Dea43 Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2013

    Welcome Dramariz, of course sorry you are here, but we are all here for ona another.

    I am in the far north myself, mom of 6. I am happy when I feel well enough to run around with or for the kids. It does help take my mind off the cancer a bit.



    C-squared.. Nice new photo. I was taking some the other day for myself, maybe I will get one added here one day. Never enough energetic hours in the day.



    I do have to say though, since missing my carbo last Wednesdat, my body is on the up and up. I feel pretty good, which now means I am cooking more tomorrow than I had planned. And I am grateful to feel up to it though.



    Happy Easter to you all.

  • C-squared
    C-squared Member Posts: 338
    edited March 2013

    Dea43~ I'm happy to hear that you are feeling well.., and quite honestly, you look GREAT!!! I know it sounds 'cliche' but it is true! 

    I know you have a lot on your schedule and I hope all of your plans work out.  Given your willingness (& Dr. P's) to be flexible, I have a feeling that it will!  BUT please DO take time for yourself too!!!  You have a very willing and loving support system and it sounds like you're accepting of their help.  In the hours surrounding their presence just remember that 9:00pm is "mommy' time to herself" and that is OKAY!!!   

    Happy Easter to you too! It was nice to meet you (& your sister).  Smile

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 420
    edited March 2013

    Happy Easter to those who celebrate!



    Thankful the Illinois Ladies exist and glad to be a part. Sweet thread community that you started Rita!



    Blessings,

    Diana

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 700
    edited March 2013

    Deyla,  Welcome to our corner of the boards.  I'm on the south side of Chicago and work between your home and Oaklawn, though I'm sure you bypass me with the expressways.  I'll PM you.   

    Hope everyone enjoys what appears to be one of the nicer days of the year so far.  

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,952
    edited March 2013

    Do we spread loving kindness? There are many who say that this is our ultimate goal on this planet--to spread loving kindness to our fellow human beings. And when we are able to accomplish this goal, we find that our lives are transformed in the process.  We're no longer so strongly focused on things and negative thoughts and feelings, but we've become truly happy, content human beings who love life and living. tom walsh

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,952
    edited March 2013

  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 687
    edited March 2013

    Deyla:  Welcome to our board! What a great group of women.

    Rita:  Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

    Lago:  Love your Hair

    Adey:  Any decisions about Bradley yet? I would love to meet up with you!

    C-Squared:  Love the hair and the curls!

    It's taken me a while to catch up.  Went on vacation with some girlfriends.  Just the relaxation I needed.  I have gotten together with three of the beautiful women who I have met on BCO (on lives in Boca Raton and drove 2 hours to see me!) and two others here in central Illinois.  I am meeting up with another one tomorrow.  

  • blackjack
    blackjack Member Posts: 771
    edited April 2013

    Happy Easter to all who celebrate. I wanted to stop by and thank you all for your comforting words and cards I received for the passing of my mom . She is at rest now with no more breathing issues to deal with. This is such a sad time for me as my dad also passed away during Easter time. Thank you again for your thought and prayers for me and my family.

    Lunch was great. Everyone is healthy looking and living life to the fullest. Thank you all for making me feel better. It is so sad that BC has brought us together. But the friendships we have made are priceless. You do think less about BC as years go bye, you feel healthy and start enjoying life .Yes there is life at the end of treatment.

    Rita, praying for you and your dad. I hope all goes well for him. Welcome to all the new girls.You will find much support and comfort here. Remember to take one day at a time.

    I don't post often as I am so busy with school and family, but you all are always in my thoughts.

    Remember to be healthy...be happy...and enjoy life. Spring is almost here...wishing for that hot sunshine soon:)

    BJ

  • Deyla7641
    Deyla7641 Member Posts: 53
    edited April 2013

    Makmak- that's funny we're backwards! I live in Indiana but am getting treated in Illinois and you live in Illinois but are getting treated in Indiana. Lol Indianapolis is quite a ride! Do you have to go very often?



    Deyla

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited April 2013

    GM all and happy April Fool's day. Like there's only one day a ear thatis a fools day. Anyway I seem to not catch up like I used to and I'm sorry cuz u'r all great.

    Adey and I are planning lunch Wednesday (first time) so I finally get to meet her, we don't live to far from each other and I'm so excited. She mentioned a restaurant, but of course I have no idea, but anyplace is fine with me, I get to meet Adey. WoopWoop.

    Well it's cold right now and it's still be in the 40's for the week but with sun so that makes a difference. I woke up this morning with my Katie-Kat cuddled in my arm and I was holding her--she such a sweet cat. It's nice to wake up to thst.

    I hope u all have a wonderful day today,  have a little Dr. stuff to do but not much.

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,952
    edited April 2013

    I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate.  It is, after all, to matter:  to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. Leo Rosten

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,952
    edited April 2013

    Morning all, and yes its April Fools Day.  Good thing all days are about the same to me.  Camille, lucky you getting to  have lunch with Adey. I bet you will both enjoy it so, so much.  Spring is coming, spring is coming.  We could get surprises up until who knows, but usually April is when everything either blooms or starts to leaf out good.  I'm ready for the in-consistency of winter to be off for awhile and let me have the spring and summer.  Of course, I hope that too is not in-consistent and so un-predictable. 

    Hope you all have a wonderful Monday.

    Love and peace,

    Jackie

  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 2,413
    edited April 2013

    Morning all!

    Joan-  Thinking of you today, healing vibes.

    Cami-  See you soon!  (c:

  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 2,413
    edited April 2013

    KJ-  It looks like she will choose Bradley and we will get to know each other in person!  (c:

  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2013

    Today marks one year on anastrozole for me.  Didn't think I'd make it this long when I first started, but the SE's are lessening or I've just adapted to them.

    KJ-Heading to Peoria for work in May.  Perhaps we can meet!

    Have a great day everyone and don't get fooled Tongue Out

  • SissyZ
    SissyZ Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2013

    Hello. I'm Sissy, I'm new. I was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Thursday. 

    I have no idea what all those aconyms are, but I wish I could be as positive and optimistic as you ladies are.

    I am terrified of losing my hair and of being scarred up by surgery. I also have a needle phobia.

    Today, as I drove to work, a fleeting thought occurred to me that if I drove off that bridge, none of this would matter any more. It was a fleeting thought, not a serious one, but my life will never be the same, will it?

    Does anyone else understand any of this? Am I certifiable, now?

    I'm supposed to have a PET scan this week, I guess... I've not made any decisions and I'm not in a hurry to do so. 

    please share with me, if you ever thought of just going away, not fighting...?? How will I get over this feeling?

  • C-squared
    C-squared Member Posts: 338
    edited April 2013

    Hi SissyZ!  I am so sorry you have to be here and I just want to reassure you that you have come to such a great place!!!  I hope you will find the support, hope and peace that you deserve by (cyber-)meeting so many of us who truly do understand how you feel.  You were just diagnosed less than a week ago and I imagine you are having many fleeting thoughts. You may think of this as the "limbo" phase:  no idea what's going to happen.., when.., how.., or why.  There is so much to take in and it is very overwhelming!  But trust me when I tell you that it WILL get better.  I never thought it would.., but it did!  Everyone's journey is their own and I would never discourage your feelings, but I CAN assure you that it WILL get better!

    I also want you to know that you have found an excellent support group here with the IL Ladies!  There is so much wisdom and experience here as well as laughter and tears. You will meet some of the most genuine survivors and those who don't give themselves enough credit.  In the end, it's a great group and that's all that matters!

    I'm so glad you reached out to us and I'm confident that other's will be chiming in soon.  Stay away from Dr. Google and if you can't, please try and read only the reputable information (i.e., ACS, NCCN, NIH, etc, just not Dr. Google!)   Surprised

    Hang in there SissyZ!  We are here for you!  Smile

  • SissyZ
    SissyZ Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2013

    C-squared, 

    thanks so much. I wish Google would've taken me here, first. Thank you so much, I see your picture and I look at all those letters and dates under your post, and you look so happy. I just want to come out of this fog!

    thanks again for your caring post...

  • illinoislady
    illinoislady Member Posts: 40,952
    edited April 2013

    SissyZ   first a big hearty welcome to you.  We are all here because we are you, or at least we were in the past...some the far past now and some the not too distant past.  Believe you me, not a one of us ever REALLY thought we'd get cancer.  Other people get it -- we always knew that.  It was never included in THE LIFE PLAN,

    I do believe the majority of us lost hair, and a lot of things.....but for the most of us, we also lost the cancer that would have totally destroyed us.  It is very hard to hear those dreaded words.  Your life flashes before your eyes in strange ways.  Give yourself some time to absorb this idea of having this disease and know that whatever you feel, someone here has felt the same thing.

    At the same time do remember that you are unique....there is no one quite like you.  There are people who love and care about you and want and hope that you will find a way to be in the best of health again. 

    We can help you get through what is happening to you.....someone helped us too.  All those strange words....you will learn them and  as well you will find some of the most loving, helpful and kind women you will ever meet right here.  Don't despair --- we all carried the weight of the world for some time, but though hard to believe life will reach a good level again.  You will find your stride and your strength because you will have so many here wishing you well and doing whatever they can to help you on this journey no one wishes to take. 

    Others will chime in soon. 

    Peace and love,

    Jackie

  • SissyZ
    SissyZ Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2013

    Thank you, Jackie. I think despair is the perfect word. 

    I've been the funny one, my entire adult life. Not anymore.

    I've always looked at the anti depressant commercials on TV and wondered how that could be?? What on earth could keep someone down like that? 

    I understand now. I honestly feel like a bomb went off and I'm afraid to make a move. 

    So crazy...

  • spunkyboobster
    spunkyboobster Member Posts: 563
    edited April 2013

    Hi Sissy-welcome and sorry you have the prerequisites to join our "club". This is a great place for support, info and sometimes to just vent. What you're feeling is common-you've just had quite a shock. It's hard to believe, but it will get better.  Once you have a treatment plan and a better idea of what you can expect you will begin to exhale. If you continue to feel depressed and/or anxious, please seek out professional help-the first thing you need to do is get comfortable with asking for and accepting help.

    Now tell us a bit about yourself. Where is CornCity? How do you spend your time? Hobbies? Looking forward to getting to know you.

    We're here for you-stop in often! Smile

  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 1,468
    edited April 2013

    Sissy - the beginning is the worst!  It will get better...I promise!  Don't give up....look at all these great ladies that are getting through it or have gotten through it.  Soon enough you will be through it all and posting and encouraging the others just starting out.  We have a great group here.  How far are you from Chicago area?  I am in the western suburbs.  Hugs!  Oh and regarding the antidepressants and anti anxiety meds - half of us are on them.  After a BC diagnosis sometimes you just need it.  It's OK to need it.  I know I could not sleep when I got diagnosed so I started taking meds to help with that....I would have never thought I would ever take meds for anything....heck I use to hate takin aspirin for a headache!  Going through treatment I was very open to whatever medications they would offer me to help me get through each phase of treatment.  Have faith!

    Hey girls...hope you all had a great Easter!  The warmer temps have been nice along with the sunshine!  Took the dog on a 4 mile walk this morning and it was chilly but so sunny and beautiful.  I scheduled my oophrectomy for 4/19 - not looking forward to that but I want to get it over with.  Anyone get bad results on their DEXA scans?  I just found out I am severely osteopenic.  I was NOT expecting that considering I eat well and exercise daily.  My MO was shocked.  Now I am off to and endocrinologist to see what we can do about that.  I guess I won't be able to switch to an AI after my oophrectomy because of the osteopenia....I guess that means I stay on tamoxifen instead.  I hope I can improve my bone density......anyone else osteopenic???  Any info appreciated about your experience with meds/building bone density.

    Have a great week!!! :)

  • timbek2
    timbek2 Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2013

    Welcome Sissy! I'm newer on here diagnosed last July and yes felt exactly that way! I had to take Ativan every day prior to my surgery. I've been in perfect health my whole life and blessed for it. Never had surgery prior and scared of doctors n hospitals. But oh how I've grown! Take it one baby step at a time. I've broken my treatment into chunks because looking at it all together can be overwhelming!!! I felt better once I had a plan. And now I look back on it all in awe. We will be here to support you every step of the way!! If I did it. You can too!! Will say a special prayer for u tonite!

    Becki ;)

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited April 2013

    Sissy I just sent you a private message. If you look on the left you will see the navigation button to private message. (Sorry ladies but part of my message was to personal to post on a public forum)

  • C-squared
    C-squared Member Posts: 338
    edited April 2013

    mdg~ I had oophorectomy at same time as BMX and was started on AI after all of that.  The first DEXA indicated I was osteopenic but Onc kept me on AI.., I was never on Tamox. and I don't know if that makes a difference.  My understanding is that the AI's are for post-menopausal (i.e., after oophorectomy) and the Tamox is for pre-menopause. 

    I have a feeling that, after oopoorectemy,  it will not hurt that you have been so active.  It can be quite an adjustment and I think you're one step ahead of the game being in such great shape!  Who knows how long you were osteopenic prior to all of this?  Unfortunately they don't do these kinds of tests to provide a baseline until we're already involved. 

    All the best to you!  Obviously you will not stop exercise and that will only help in the long-run!  (Aren't you a runner?  No pun intended Laughing). 

  • joan888
    joan888 Member Posts: 711
    edited April 2013

    Big Hello to SissyZ.  You have truly found a great source of support here with the Illinois Ladies.  YOU WILL MAKE IT.  I remember that I had some fleeting thoughts of not fighting the big fight.  I think that I was in denial and thought it would all just go away if I just ignored it and did nothing.  Ha!  So, I fought the good fight and won and you will too!

    I finally got rid of my TE today.  The exchange surgery went very smoothly and I am feeling quite wonderful to be rid of that darn thing.  Hope that this is my last exchange.

    MDG... I was diagnosed with severe osteopenia a year ago.  Thank you Femara!  I am doing another DEXA in a couple weeks before I see my MO for follow up later this month.  I have upped my calcium, Vit D and dairy and I am hoping it has made a difference. Let me know what your endocrinologist has to say. 

  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 687
    edited April 2013

    Sissyz:  Welcome.  YOu are NOT alone!  We are here for you!  I seriously do not know how I could have gotten through my journey without the wonderful women from BCO.  ((Hugs))

    Spunky and Adey:  Let me know when you will be in town.  If you need a place to stay, I've got plenty of room.  Can't wait to meet you both!  

    Becky:  Let me check my calendar so we can get together again before your last rad!

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